The 2026/27 United Rugby Championship (URC) season continues this weekend with two games on Friday before six fixtures are played over Saturday.

Check on all the URC team news, our predictions, the match officials and more below.

Connacht v Leinster

Prediction: Connacht by 2

Connacht: 15 Josh Ioane, 14 Shayne Bolton, 13 John Devine, 12 Cathal Forde, 11 Daniel Ryan, 10 Sean Naughton, 9 Caolin Blade, 8 Paul Boyle (c), 7 Will Connors, 6 Sean O’Brien, 5 David O’Connor, 4 Josh Murphy, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Dave Heffernan, 1 Francois van Wyk
Replacements: 16 Matthew Victory, 17 Jerry Cahir, 18 Fiachna Barrett, 19 Niall Murray, 20 Shamus Hurley-Langton, 21 Colm Reilly, 22 Finn Treacy, 23 Sam Gilbert

Leinster: 15 Todd Lawlor, 14 Joshua Kenny, 13 Connor Fahy, 12 Charlie Tector, 11 Jordan Larmour, 10 Joey Carbery, 9 Fintan Gunne, 8 James Culhane, 7 Scott Penny, 6 Max Deegan (c), 5 Alan Spicer, 4 Brian Deeny, 3 Niall Smyth, 2 Gus McCarthy, 1 Alex Usanov
Replacements: 16 Stephen Smyth, 17 Peter Dooley, 18 Alex Mullan, 19 Conor O’Tighearnaigh, 20 Alex Soroka, 21 Cormac Foley, 22 Caspar Gabriel, 23 Ciarán Mangan

Venue: Dexcom Stadium, Galway
Kick-off: 19.45 IRE & UK / 20.45 ITA / 21.45 SA
Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU, 31st league game)
Assistant Referees: Andrew Brace (IRFU), Keane Davison (IRFU)
TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)
Live on: TG4, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Glasgow Warriors v Lions

Prediction: Lions by 3

Glasgow Warriors: 15 Ollie Smith, 14 Bayley Kuenzle, 13 Johnny Ventisei, 12 Stafford McDowall (c), 11 Fergus Watson, 10 Dan Lancaster, 9 George Horne, 8 Euan Ferrie, 7 Macenzzie Duncan, 6 Jamie Ritchie, 5 Jare Oguntibeju, 4 Alex Craig, 3 Fin Richardson, 2 Jack Singleton, 1 Jake Shearer
Replacements: 16 Gregor Hiddleston, 17 Patrick Schickerling, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Max Williamson, 20 Ally Miller, 21 Seb Stephen, 22 Callum Reidy, 23 Cameron van Wyk

Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Kelly Mpeku, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Bronson Mills, 11 Erich Cronje, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn (c), 7 Siba Qoma, 6 Siba Mahashe, 5 Ruan Delport, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 RF Schoeman, 2 Tiaan Lange, 1 SJ Kotze
Replacements: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Conrad van Vuuren, 19 Dylan Sjoblom, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Nico Steyn, 22 Richard Kriel, 23 Boeta Chamberlain

Venue: Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow
Kick-off: 19.45 IRE & UK / 20.45 ITA / 21.45 SA
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR, 63rd league game)
Assistant Referees: Mike Adamson (SRU), David Sutherland (SRU)
TMO: Stefano Penne (FIR)
Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Saturday

Stormers v Ulster

Prediction: Stormers by 16

Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel (c), 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Yaqeen Ahmed, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Louw Nel, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Adré Smith, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Vernon Paulo, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu
Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Vernon Matongo, 18 Neethling Fouché, 19 Riley Norton, 20 Connor Evans, 21 Wandile Mlaba, 22 Haashim Pead, 23 Wandisile Simelane

Ulster: 15 Ethan McIlroy, 14 Michael Lowry, 13 James Hume, 12 Ben Carson, 11 Zac Ward, 10 Jack Murphy, 9 Matthew Devine, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 David McCann (c), 6 Cormac Izuchukwu, 5 Eli Snyman, 4 Ben Donnell, 3 Keynan Knox, 2 Rob Herring, 1 Eric O’Sullivan
Replacements: 16 Henry Walker, 17 Tom McAllister, 18 Scott Wilson, 19 Harry Sheridan, 20 Martin Moloney, 21 Conor McKee, 22 Jake Flannery, 23 Chay Mullins

Venue: DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: 12.45 IRE & UK / 13.45 ITA / 14.45 SA
Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU, 65th league game)
Assistant Referees: Stephan Geldenhuys (SARU), Sean Muller (SARU)
TMO: Ru Campbell (SRU)
Live on: SuperSport, Premier Sports, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Bulls v Scarlets

Prediction: Bulls by 22

Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Hanro Liebenberg (c), 6 Jeandre Rudolph, 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Khutha Mchunu, 2 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 1 Alu Tshakweni
Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Marcell Coetzee, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Sebastian de Klerk, 23 Hakeem Kunene

Scarlets: 15 Ioan Nicholas, 14 Ioan Jones, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Gabe McDonald, 11 Isaac Murray-Macgregor; 10 Carwyn Leggatt-Jones, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 Fletcher Anderson, 7 Josh Macleod (c), 6 Sam Lousi, 5 Alex Groves, 4 Tom Allen, 3 Harri O’Connor, 2 John McKee, 1 Corey Domachowski
Replacements: 16 Isaac Young, 17 Sam O’Connor, 18 Gabe Hawley, 19 Harvey Cuckson, 20 Dan Davis, 21 Dane Blacker, 22 Gareth Anscombe, 23 Jac Davies

Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 15.00 IRE & UK / 16.00 ITA / 17.00 SA
Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU, 42nd league game)
Assistant Referees: Christopher Allison (SARU), Dylen November (SARU)
TMO: Robbie Jenkinson (IRFU)
Live on: SuperSport, Premier Sports, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Benetton v Edinburgh

Prediction: Benetton by 3

Benetton: 15 Matt Gallagher, 14 Ignacio Mendy, 13 Federico Zanandrea, 12 Paolo Odogwu, 11 Onisi Ratave, 10 Jacob Umaga, 9 Andy Uren, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Manuel Zuliani (c), 6 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 5 Piero Gritti, 4 Mattia Midena, 3 Giosué Zilocchi, 2 Nicholas Gasperini, 1 Matias Medrano
Replacements: 16 Siua Maile, 17 Ivan Nemer, 18 Marcos Gallorini, 19 Jadin Kingi, 20 Antony Miranda, 21 Louis Werchon, 22 Jean Smith, 23 François Mey

Edinburgh: 15 Piers O’Conor, 14 Geordie Gwynn, 13 Matt Currie (cc), 12 Mosese Tuipulotu, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 James Grayson, 9 Hector Patterson, 8 Magnus Bradbury (cc), 7 Freddy Douglas, 6 Liam McConnell, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Glen Young, 3 Ollie Blyth-Lafferty, 2 Harri Morris, 1 Alec Hepburn
Replacements: 16 Jerry Blyth-Lafferty, 17 Jamie Stewart, 18 Paul Hill, 19 Callum Hunter-Hill, 20 Tom Currie, 21 Conor McAlpine, 22 Ross Thompson, 23 Harry Paterson

Venue: Stadio Monigo, Treviso
Kick-off: 15.00 IRE & UK / 16.00 ITA / 17.00 SA
Referee: Hanru van Rooyen (SARU, 4th league game)
Assistant Referees: Fillipo Russo (FIR), Manuel Bottino (FIR)
TMO: Egon Seconds (SARU)
Live on: Sky Italia, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Munster v Sharks

Prediction: Munster by 2

Munster: 15 Ben O’Connor, 14 Shay McCarthy, 13 Gordon Wood, 12 Alex Nankivell, 11 Rob Russell, 10 JJ Hanrahan, 9 Ben O’Donovan, 8 Brian Gleeson, 7 Jack O’Donoghue (c), 6 Seán Edogbo, 5 Fineen Wycherley, 4 Evan O’Connell, 3 Kieran Brookes, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Josh Wycherley
Replacements: 16 Lee Barron, 17 Jeremy Loughman, 18 Michael Ala’alatoa, 19 Edwin Edogbo, 20 Gavin Coombes, 21 Jake O’Riordan, 22 Charlie O’Shea, 23 Alex Kendellen

Sharks: 15 Zekhethelo Siyaya, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 12 Ethan Hooker, 11 Jaco Williams, 10 Gianni Lombard, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Nick Hatton (c), 7 Manu Tshituka, 6 Matt Romao, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Hanro Jacobs, 2 Ethan Bester, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Esethu Mnebelele, 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Stephan Lewies, 20 Vincent Tshituka, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Siya Masuku, 23 Litelihle Bester

Venue: Thomond Park, Limerick
Kick-off: 17.30 IRE & UK / 18.30 ITA / 19.30 SA
Referee: Ben Connor (WRU, 9th league game)
Assistant Referees: Peter Martin (IRFU), Kevin Beakey (IRFU)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (WRU)
Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Dragons v Zebre Parma

Prediction: Dragons by 12

Dragons: 15 Angus O’Brien (c), 14 David Richards, 13 Fine Inisi, 12 Fetuli Paea, 11 Anzelo Tuitavuki, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Rhodri Williams, 8 Harrison Keddie, 7 Evan Minto, 6 Shane Lewis-Hughes, 5 Matthew Screech, 4 Barny Langton-Cryer, 3 Chris Coleman, 2 Elliot Dee, 1 Jordan Morris
Replacements: 16 Brodie Coghlan, 17 Rodrigo Martinez, 18 Owain James, 19 Nick Thomas, 20 Sam Scarfe, 21 Morgan Lloyd, 22 Cai Evans, 23 Joe Westwood

Zebre Parma: 15 Giovanni Montemauri, 14 Leonardo Sodo Migliori, 13 Marco Zanon, 12 Riccardo Casarin, 11 Simone Gesi, 10 Giacomo Da Re, 9 Thomas Dominguez, 8 Davide Ruggeri, 7 Bautista Stavile, 6 Giacomo Ferrari (c), 5 Leonard Krumov, 4 Francesco Ruffolo, 3 Juan Barbotti, 2 Giampietro Ribaldi, 1 Sergio Pelliccioli
Replacements: 16 Francisco Minervino, 17 Federico Pisani, 18 Octavio Barbatti, 19 Matteo Canali, 20 Jacopo Botturi, 21 Patricio Baronio Guana, 22 Giovanni Licata/Jacopo Trulla, 23 Tobias Wade

Venue: Rodney Parade, Newport
Kick-off: 17.30 IRE & UK / 18.30 ITA / 19.30 SA
Referee: Griffin Colby (SARU, 14th league game)
Assistant Referees: Craig Evans (WRU), Gareth Newman (WRU)
TMO: Colin Brett (SARU)
Live on: Premier Sports, Sky Italia, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

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Ospreys v Cardiff Rugby

Prediction: Ospreys by 7

Ospreys: 15 Ieystyn Hopkins, 14 Luke Morgan, 13 Owen Watkin (cc), 12 Keiran Williams, 11 Keelan Giles, 10 Lawson Creighton, 9 Luke Davies, 8 Morgan Morris, 7 Ross Moriarty, 6 Liam Wright, 5 Ryan Smith, 4 James Ratti, 3 Tom Botha, 2 Sam Parry (cc), 1 Stef Thomas
Replacements: 16 Efan Daniel, 17 Cam Jones, 18 Ben Warren, 19 Rhys Davies, 20 Morgan Morse, 21 Harry Williams, 22 Harri Wilde, 23 Evardi Boshoff

Cardiff: 15 Matty Young, 14 Josh Adams, 13 Le Roux Malan, 12 Steff Emanuel, 11 Tom Bowen, 10 Jarrod Evans, 9 Johan Mulder, 8 Alun Lawrence, 7 Dan Thomas, 6 Semisi Paea, 5 Rory Thornton, 4 Josh McNally (c), 3 Keiron Assiratti, 2 Daf Hughes, 1 Danny Southworth
Replacements: 16 Tom Howe, 17 Scott Sio, 18 Javan Sebastian, 19 Tom Manz, 20 Lucas de la Rua, 21 Aled Davies, 22 Callum Sheedy, 23 Osian Darwin-Lewis

Venue: St. Helens, Swansea
Kick-off: 19.45 IRE & UK / 20.45 ITA / 21.45 SA
Referee: Ben Breakspear (WRU, 23rd league game)
Assistant Referees: Carwyn Sion (WRU), Marc Caudle (WRU)
TMO: Jenny Davies (WRU)
Live on: S4C, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv